WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sports fans and player alike are not taking kindly to the comments made today by President Donald J. Trump’s top medical advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci after he made some grim comments about team sports in America.
“Safety, for the players and for the fans, trumps everything,” Fauci told the New York Times. “If you can’t guarantee safety, then, unfortunately, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and say, ‘We may have to go without this sport for this season.’”
Many professional sports are now making plans to resume activities as Fauci made the statement, including the NBA and Major League Baseball. Around the country youth sports and high school sports associations are also trying to figure out how to make their seasons happen safely during the tail end of the pandemic.
In New Jersey, last week, the NJSIAA which regulates high school sports in the state postponed their meeting where the organization was to decide on the future of the 2020 spring season, “Per the NJSIAA Bylaws, the Annual Business meeting is supposed to be held on the first Monday in May – this year, May 4th. However, given the unprecedented circumstances and lack of any emergent legislation that would impact the start of the 2020-2021 school year, the officers feel it is best to postpone at this time. The postponement will hopefully allow for Sectional meetings and the Annual Business meeting to be held in person, as opposed to virtually, which is logistically more efficient for a meeting of a large body at which votes must be cast. The NJSIAA will post the updated date, time and location as soon as the information is available.”
The NJSIAA is the authority that will make the final determination regarding high school sports.
The organization has previously said it’s drop dead window to resume the spring season is May 25th.
“The return-to-school date and related public health guidelines will continue to determine the viability of a spring sports season. As noted, NJSIAA is committed to doing whatever is possible to provide New Jersey’s student-athletes with some type of spring season. We have models in place that allow for competition starting as late as May 25, but given the late start date, tournament play may not be viable. Our commitment to conclude the spring season, no later than June 30 stands. As the governor noted, we remain hopeful.”
“I would love to be able to have all sports back,” Fauci said in the Times report. “But as a health official and a physician and a scientist, I have to say, right now, when you look at the country, we’re not ready for that yet.”
Based on a report by the New York Times.
Photo by Rachel Barkdoll on Unsplash